Meristematic nodule culture: a new pathway for in vitro propagation of Eucalyptus globulus

• Published in: Trees (Berlin, West) Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 308 - 315
• Main Authors: TRINDADE, H, PAIS, M. S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-07-2003; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Economic plant physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth regulators; In vitro culture; Plant physiology and development; Shoots; Tissue cultures, protoplasts; Morphogenesis; Regeneration; Dicotyledones; Eucalyptus globulus; Angiospermae; Myrtaceae; Tissue culture; Hardwood forest tree; Micropropagation; Spermatophyta; Nodule culture; Butyric acid
• ISSN: 0931-1890; 1432-2285
• DOI: 10.1007/s00468-002-0240-0

Morphogenesis was induced in Eucalyptus globulus seeds, cotyledons, hypocotyls and leaves from in vitro clonal plantlets. Globular structures were observed after 2 weeks induction on B5 culture medium supplemented with 10% coconut water, 0.05-0.5 mg l^sup -1^ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.5 mg l^sup -1^ indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). These continued to proliferate under dark conditions until the 2nd to 3rd subculture. Following transfer to a photoperiod of 16 h light, shoots evolved from these globular structures and developed further to plantlets. The influence of several factors, including culture medium composition, sucrose concentration, the type, concentration and combination of growth regulators and the presence of coconut water was studied. The percentage of explants showing globular structure formation and the number of globular structures per explant were evaluated. Macroscopic, histological and scanning electron microscopic studies revealed that the morphogenic process involved mainly organogenic nodules with fewer globular somatic embryos. The nodules gave rise to shoots and subsequently complete plants following incubation on B5 Gamborg medium containing 0.5 mg l^sup -1^ IBA and 30 g l^sup -1^ sucrose, which promoted root formation.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]